Marrying My Father's Enemy-Chapter 101: The Stage Is Set

Chapter 101: The Stage is Set

The afternoon sun streamed through the tall windows of the Blackwood family’s estate, casting long shadows over Henry’s private office.

He sat behind his massive desk, his hands gripping the arms of his chair as he stared at the television in front of him.

A press conference played on the screen, with carefully edited clips of Eira.

Her voice was distorted, and her words twisted to make it appear as though she was scheming to destroy the Blackwood family.

Vanesa’s old voiceover narrated the video, "This is who Eira Hax really is—a manipulative outsider trying to tear us apart from within."

Henry’s lips pressed together as he reached for the remote and turned off the screen.

The room fell silent except for the faint ticking of the clock on the wall.

Vanesa walked in moments later.

She carried herself with confidence, smiling.

"Father, did you see it? The video is already trending. Everyone’s starting to question her motives now."

Henry didn’t respond immediately. He leaned back in his chair, staring at her as though she were a puzzle he couldn’t solve.

"You think this was clever?" he finally asked calmly, but with an edge that made Vanesa falter.

"It’s necessary," she replied. "Eira is a threat to us. To you. She’s already turned Callian against us, and she’s going to take everything we’ve built. I had to act..."

Vanesa thought she was clever for using an old tape thanks to Mita’s idea.

The university’s Winter event was near the corner, and then, Mita was planning to go about recording.

Henry stood slowly, the chair creaked as he pushed it back. "You had to act," he repeated, as if tasting the words.

"Yes," Vanesa said, but her body started shaking a little.

"You’ve always said we need to protect the family name. That’s what I’m doing."

Henry walked around the desk.

"Let me tell you what I see, Vanesa," he said. "I see my daughter, meddling in matters she doesn’t understand. I see reckless decisions that could destroy everything I’ve worked for."

Vanesa took a step back, her voice rose defensively. "I’m doing this for you! For us! Eira doesn’t belong here, and you know it."

Henry stopped in front of her, his gaze sharp enough to cut through her neck.

"Do you know what you’ve done? That video doesn’t just attack Eira. It exposes us. It makes us look desperate. And desperation is weakness, Vanesa. Weakness is what kills families like ours."

Vanesa’s face flushed, and she stammered, "But—"

"No," Henry interrupted.

"You’ve overstepped. You’ve dragged this family’s name into the mud with your childish games. And now, instead of dealing with Eira on my terms, I have to clean up your mess."

Vanesa’s hands curled into fists. "She’s ruining everything, and you’re just letting her! Why can’t you see that?!"

She needed Henry’s validation. For a small moment, Vanesa wanted Henry to understand her.

"Enough!" Henry roared, the sharpness in his voice made her flinch.

"Do not presume to lecture me on strategy, Vanesa. I’ve kept this family intact for decades. Do you think one girl can bring it down?"

Vanesa’s eyes shone with unshed tears, but she refused to cry. "I was trying to help."

"If you want to help, you’ll stay out of this. From now on, you will not make a move unless I tell you to. Do you understand me?"

Vanesa bit her lip but nodded. "Yes, Father."

Henry watched her for a moment longer before turning away.

"Go to your room. Reflect on what you’ve done."

Vanesa hesitated, then stormed out of the office without another word.

Henry returned to his desk, sitting down heavily.

He reached for his phone and dialed a number. It rang twice before a smooth voice answered.

"Mr. Reed."

"Do you have it?" Henry asked.

"Yes, sir," the voice replied. "The records you requested. Hospital visits, finances, everything."

Henry leaned back, a small smirk formed on his lips. "Good. Send it over. It’s time to remind everyone exactly who holds the power in this family."

He looked through the window. "It’s time for Eira to come and see me as her father."

There was a thing that Henry held for Steven.

Steven was his younger brother, but Steven was too greedy.

Henry didn’t like that. He wanted Steven to always listen to him and stop rebelling for once.

But the stubbornness of Steven was always what got the worst out of Henry.

He had an idea that Beatrice might’ve cheated on him, but never with Steven.

However, what Vanesa told him last time, and Callian’s evidence... then Helen...

"It’s adding up."

Helen rejected Steven when they were younger, so that’s why Henry managed to slide into her life.

It was an open opportunity for him to act.

What Henry didn’t expect was that Steven would take his revenge on Helen.

At first, Steven gave his blessings to Henry, and when Henry told him the real plan, that’s when Steven disagreed.

He didn’t want to hurt Helen.

Neither did Henry, but the circumstances led him to act differently.

And after everything was done, Henry had expected to visit Helen in jail, to make her admit to the wrongdoings, so her sentence would be lightened.

However, Helen disagreed...

And after that, Henry was forbidden from ever seeing her again.

But now, knowing that the person who forbade him to see her was conspiring with his brother this whole time...

He clenched his fist and slammed the table. "Bastard!"

Henry shook his head, then unlocked his drawer and picked up Eira’s diary again.

"Fuck it, let’s see what else is written in there..." He sighed.

-Today Konrad decided to feed me. I was happy because starving for a couple of days wasn’t so good for me. I felt very weak and at times, I thought I would pass out. But what Konrad and his friend did next to me makes me cry.-

Henry noticed the paper to be wrinkled again. "She was crying here?"

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